Younity ‘We Have the Power’ Sessions

We all know how important renewable energy is to the future of our planet.  

That’s why last week, Michaela Cryar, Head of Younity – our joint venture with Octopus Energy which supports community energy producers – spoke at Co-ops UK’s Co-op Congress, taking part in the ‘We have the Power’ panel session with other leading figures in the sector. The event looked to determine how communities can take energy production into their own hands through controlling renewables such as solar panels, and what role co-operatives and their members can play in that process.

Michaela championed the importance of community energy and showcased our support in increasing generation across the UK. Younity works directly with more than one third of the sector, providing loans, grants and signing over 275 Power Purchase Agreements to buy energy from community groups. Michaela also spoke about Younity’s Community Energy Connect platform, which brings together professional volunteers with community energy groups, and helps to overcome any barriers to growth that they may be facing.

Midcounties and Younity have long campaigned for greater government support for the energy sector and also on the panel was Eva Murray, campaigns manager for the Co-operative Party, who spoke about how current policy is restricting growth of community energy. Eva argued that the effective ban on onshore wind power production, which Labour has indicated it would remove should it come into government, is currently creating a barrier to the growth of community energy in rural and urban settings.

These urban areas include Birmingham, where Younity are focusing on increasing renewable projects not just for environmental reasons, but also to create positive social impact. The UK’s second city has the highest rate of fuel poverty in England, with almost a quarter of households unable to afford the energy needed to power and heat their homes. Michaela made the point that while London has a thriving community energy sector, with over 30 groups, Birmingham currently has only a handful.

Younity’s goal for their work in Birmingham is to highlight the importance of community energy, install rooftop solar panels and facilitate new groups who will work to produce sustainable energy. This will then be purchased and redistributed by Younity throughout the city, kickstarting more projects and working to reduce the levels of fuel poverty currently affecting households.

Michaela’s appearance at Congress is just the latest example how we support community generation, which will continue to be a focus for us as we work to create a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future.